Water-level regulator for steam-boilers



F. l. mu Pom.

WATER LEVEL REGULATOR FOR STEAM BOILERS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29, 1913.

1,401,892, Patented Deu. 27, 1921.

Sl nt? QFlFlQEG FRANCIS I. DU FONT, OF "WILMINGTON, DELA'WARE, ASSIGNOR TO DELAW'ARE CHEMICAL ENGENEERING- COMPANY, 63 VJILIJIII IG'lGN, DELAVJAEE, A COR- PORATION E IDELAVIABE.

XVA'IEB-LEVEL REGULAEGR FOE STEAILVE-BOELLERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 2%, i921.

Application filed March 29, 1913. Serial No. 225,464.

owing is full, clear, and exact description,

reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which rorm a part of this specillcation.

sly invention has for its object the automaintei ance of a constant level of er in'steam boilers. It is especially ap plicable to steam-driven automobiles, and in such application has its greatest utility and value for the reason that it is particularly desirable in these vehicles that the drivers attention should be confined to as few duties as possible.

The invention consists of means to pump wer from a water reservoir or tank to the boiler. means adapted to return water from the boiler to the tank at a rate exceeding, or at least not less than, the rate at which the water is pumped to the boiler, a heat interged to transfer heat from the SW12! owin toward the boiler to prevent the wate of heat that would otherwise ocl means to prevent the conversion into steam of the water flowing from the boiler so as to insure the exchange of the maximum amount of heat before the return of the water to the tank.

A preferred embodiment of the invention own in the accompanying drawing, the k figure which is a diagrammatic of the water tank and steam boiler and of the pump, heat exchanger and other mechanism connected with the water tank and steam boiler and cobperating therewith and with each other. @nly those arts and details are shown which are essential to a full disclosure of the invent-ion.

(1 represents the steam boiler; o the dered water level therein; 0 the water tank which the boiler is kept supplied' and e feed pump, which takes water rrom at bottom of the water tank through pipe m delivers through the h eat intercha nger a into the boiler.

The plunger of the pump d is actuated by a connecting rod from one arm of a walking beam which in turn is actuated by any means, but preferably by some mechanism geareo to a shat of the steam engme i f which is being supplied by the boiler b. The other arm of the walking beam f is connected to the plunger of what may be called a measuring engine. This measuring engine comprises a cylinder 9 and a plunger it. The cylinder 9 has at least as great a capacity as, and preferably a slightly greater capacity than, the cylinder of feed pump 03. It has ports and a slide valve 2' which is operated by a rigid arm y' on the end of the plun er itself. This 7' engages, just before the end of the inward stroke, with a shoulder 72 on the valve stem and shifts the valve 2' to open communication between a pipe m (which leads from within the boiler at apoint at which it is desired to maintain the water level) and the cylinder 9 of the measof the measuring'engine, the ri id arm j engages head Z on the end of the valve stem ano shifts the valve 2' to close communication between the pipe m and the cylinder 9 of the measuring engine, at the same time opening communication between the cylinder 9 the pipe at which leads to the heat interchanger e.

As long as the water evel in the boiler a is above the end of the pipe m, the cylinder being of greater capacity than the cylinder of the feed pump d, will take more water out of the boiler tnan the feed pump can deliver into it When, however, the level of the water in the boiler falls below the end of the pipe m, the latter will receive only steam, and the water level in the boiler will until equilibrium is established. The heat interchanger e is not a substitute for the usual feed water heater operating by exhaust steam from theengine. Should an ordinary heater be used it must be introduced the pipe 0 between the feed pump and the heat interchanger as indicated in dotted lines, and may be connected in any desired manner to the exhaust of the engine. The purpose of the interchanger is to neutralize hot water and steam from the boiler.

The heat interchanger can be of any of the well known forms, but that'shown consists in a coil p for the feed water extending through a chamber in which is a series of diaphragms '1", each perforated with a small hole, thus dividing the interchanger into a series of superimposed chambers, the upper one of which contains the hottest water and transfers heat in the greatest degree to the coil through which the feed water passes. The other chambers grade downward in temperature as the incoming feed water takes heat away from them.

By means of this interchanger the heat units in the stream of withdrawn Water are immediately transferred to the ingoing feed water and substantially no heat is lost.

, The importance of this is at once recog-' niaed when the state of affairs in a steam automobile which is running down lllll 1s considered. l-lere the feed pump (which 1s usually geared to the axle) is working and a stream of water is being pumped into the boiler, but the engine is not using any steam. With the present day steam automobiles, the feed pump must be bypassed either by a hand operated valve or by a device dependent on expansion oi metals, which does not always work satisfactorily. If this is not done, the boiler becomes too full. My device not only renders it impossible for the boiler to become too full, but prevents the loss of heat units due to pumping into the boiler water which, by reason of the fact that the engine is not delivering any eX- haust steam, has not been heated.

If there were nothing to prevent, the water, as soon asdelivered through the pipe a into the chambers of the interchanger 7 pressure.

would, owing to its high temperature, flash intosteam and rush out into the tank a atatmospheric pressure. This would leave the chambers ot' a full of steam at atmospheric Under these circumstances, very little of the heat due to the boiler pressure would be saved by the interchanger.

, To ol' viate this I provide a differential valve 3 working in a chamber 6 connected by pipe 3/ with the supply tanks, a lower chamber a connected by a pipe 2 with'the lower chamber of the heat exchanger and an upper chamber 7) connected by a pipe to with the steam space of the boiler a. The live steam pressiire acting through the pipe to tends to hold valve 8 down on its seat, thereby closing the outlet from the heatinterchangcr. llowever, the lower end of the valve is larger in area than the end acted on by the live steam; and when the pressure in the interchanger rises suiiiciently, it raises the valve, and water from the interchanger escapes 111 50 the chamber 0. Thus, valve 5 acts as a regulating check valve, allowing exit of the water from the interchanger at a pressure which will vary with the boiler pressure, but will be lower in proportion as the area of the seat is larger than the area oi. the plunger of the valve.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim and protect by Letters Patent 1-. In an apparatus for regulating the water level in a steam, boiler, the combination with a water supply tanlnof a water line extending from the tank to the boiler, means in said line between the tank and boiler to deliver water from-the tank to the boiler at a rate in excess of the rate at which the water is converted into ,steam in the boiler, a second line from the boiler to the tank to which passes the water from the boiler which rises above a predetermined level, meansin the second line between the tank and boiler for Withdrawing a predetermined volume of fluid from the boiler in a given time and transferring it to the tank, and a heat interchanger in said lines to transfer heat from the outgoing fluid from I,

gine cylinder tocause the piston to be acted upon by the boiler pressure during the passage of fluld to the cylinder and to cut oil said pressure during the passage of fluid;

from the cylinder.

3. In an apparatus for regulating the water level in a steam boiler, the combination with a feed pump to continuously deliver water to the boiler at a constant rate and a valve controlled measuring engine arranged to be, acted upon by the boiler pressure in one direction only and permit a predetermined quantity oi fluid to pass from the boiler and acting to withdraw from the boiler water rising above a predetermined level, means for'actuating the control valves,

and actuating connections between the meas uring engine and the feed pump to utilize the power of the engine inoperating the feed pump.

l. In an apparatus for regulating the water level in steam boiler, in combination, a boiler, a water supply tank, means to dc liver water from the supply tank to the boiler, and means of at leastras great a capacity as the water-delivery-means to return water from the boiler to the tank, the last named means being rendered inoperative to withdraw water upon the recession of the water in the boiler to a predetermined level.

5. In an apparatus for regulating the water level in a steam generator, a water inlet line leading from a supply to the generator, means to continuously deliver water from the supply to the generator at a predetermined rate through said line, a second line separate from the inlet line leading from the generator to the supply, means in the second line to withdraw from the generator through said second line any excess water fed thereto, and a double surface heat interchanger connected to the two lines arranged to deliver the heat of the outgoing fluid to the ingoing water.

6. In an apparatus for regulating the water level in a steam boiler, in combination, a boiler, a water supply tank, means to deliver water from the tank to the boiler and to return from the boiler to the tank water supplied to the boiler in excess of the amount of water converted into steam, and a heat interchanger adapted to transfer heat from the water returning from the boiler to the water being delivered to the boiler.

7. In an apparatus ror regulating the wa ter level in av steam boiler, in combination, a boiler, a water supply tank, means to de-' liver water from the tank to the boiler and to withdraw water from the boiler, a heat interchanger adapted to transfer heat from the water withdrawn from the boiler to the water being delivered thereto, and a yielding regulating contrivance adapted to restrain the escape of the return water from the heat interchanger until the pressure in the interchanger reaches a predetermined pressure below boiler pressure.

8. in an apparatus for regulating the water level in a steam boiler, in combination, a boiler, a water supply tank, means to deliver water from the tank to the boiler and to return water from the boiler to the tank, a heat interchanger adapted to transfer heat from the water returning from the boiler to the water being delivered to the boiler, and a yielding regulating cont-rivance adapted to restrain the flow o'l water from the heat interchanger to the tank until the pressure in the heat interchanger reaches a predetermined pressure below boiler pressure.

9. In an apparatus for regulating the waterlerel in a steam boiler, in combination, a boiler, a water supply tank, pipe connection between the tank and the boiler, a pump interposed in said connection, a second pipe co nection between the tank, and the boiler, and a measuring engine in the second pipe connection having a capacity not less than the pump and tending to withdraw.

water from the boiler at a rate not less than that at which i is pumped to the boiler, the second pipe connection communicating with the interior of the boiler at a point corresponding to the desired level of Water therein.

it). In an apparatus for regulating the water level in a steam-boiler, in combination, a boiler, a water supply, a feed pump and feed pipe connection adapted to transfer water from the supply to the boiler at a rate in excess of the rate at which the water converted into steam in the boiler, an outflow pipe connection from the boiler at the desired water level, a measuring engine in the second pipeconnection having a capacity not less than that of the feed pump and tending to withdraw water from the boiler at a rate not less than that at which it is pumped to the boiler, and a heat interchanger, interposed in both pipe connections, adapted to transfer heat from the out going to the incoming water without the interiningling thereof.

ll. In an apparatus for regulating the water level in a steam boiler, in combination, a boiler, a water supply tank, a pipe connection between the tank the boiler, a pump interposed in said connection, a second pipe connection between the tank and the boiler at the desired water level, a measuring engine in the second pipe connection having a capacity not less than that of the pump and tending to withdraw water from the boiler at a rate not less than that at which it is pumped to the boiler, and a heat interchanger, interposed in both, pipe connections, adapted to transfer heat from the outgoing to the incoming water.

12. In an apparatus for regulating the water level a steam boiler, in co1nbina tion, a boiler, a water supply tank, means to deliver water from the tank to the boiler and to withdraw water from the boiler, a connection at the desired water level through which the water is drawn, heat interchanger adapted to transfer heat from the water withdrawn froni' the boiler to the water being delivered thereto, a yielding regulating valve adapted to restrain the es cape of water from the heat interchanger and a connection in the steam space of the boiler to said valve whereby the latter prevented from yielding to allow the wa ter to escape the interchanger until the pressure tlierein reaches a preietermined degree below boiler pressure.

ln apparatus for regulating the water level in a steam boiler, in combination, a boiler, a water supply tank, means to deliver water from the tank to the boiler and to return water from the boiler to the tank, a connection at the d t rr";:h which the water drawn, a heat iiwcrcha er adapted to transfer heat from the wa ter returning iironi the boiler to the lit ed water level water being delivered to the boiler, a yielding regulating valve adapted to restrain the flow oi water from the heat interchanger to the tank, and a connection from the steam space of the boiler to said valve whereby the latter is "prevented from yielding to allow the water to flow to the tank until the pressure-in the heat interchanger reaches a predetermined degree below boiler pressure. ll. In an apparatus for regulating the water level in a steam boiler, in combination, a boiler, water supply tank, means to deliver water from the tank to the boiler and to withdraw water from the boiler, a heat interchanger, adapted to transfer heat from the water withdrawn from the boiler to the Water being delivered thereto, a pressure regulating valve in the outlet from the heat interchanger, said valve having dillerential pressure areas, the larger pressure area opposing the passage of water from the interchanger, and a steam pipe connection :lroin the boiler to the smaller area of the valve, whereby the pressure in the heat interchanger is maintained above atmospheric pressure but below the boiler pressure and whereby the valve releases to allow the escape of water from the interchanger at a pressure below the boiler pressure determined by the difference between said pressure areas. V 7

l5. ln. an apparatus for regulating the water level in a steamboiler, in combination, a boiler, a water supply tank, means to deliver water from the tanlr to the boiler and to return water from the boiler to the tank, a heat, interchanger adapted to transiicr heat from the v-rater returning from the boiler to the water being delivered to the boiler, a pressure regulating valve in the passage from the heat interchanger to the tank, said valve having differential pressure areas, the larger pressure area opposing the passage of water to the tank, and a steam pipe connection "from the boiler to the smaller area of the valve, whereby the pressure in the heat interchanger is maintained above atmosphedc pressure but below the boiler pressure and whereby the valve releases to allow the return or water the tank at a pressure below the boiler pressure determined by the difierence between said g'iressure areas.

l6. ln an apparatus for regulating the water level in a steam boiler, in combination, a boiler, a water supply, a feed pump and feed pipe connection adapted to transfer water from the supply to the laoiler an outflow pipe connection from the boiler at the desired water level,

a measuring engine in the second pipe connection having a capacity not less than that or; the feed pump and tending to withdraw water from the boiler at a rate not less than that at which it is pumped to the boiler, a heat interchanger, interposedrin both pipe connections, adapted to transler heat from the outgoing to. the incoming d water, a steam pipe connected with the boiler, and a valve'having apressure face of relatively small area open to the. pressure in said steam pipe and a pressure lace oi relatlvely large area open to the pressure of water in the pipe connection in which the heat interchanger is interposed and adapt ed to shut oil the escape of water therefrom until the pressurevtherein approaches the boiler pressure to a degree dependent upon the dilierence in said pressure areas.

17. In an apparatus for regulating the water level in a steam boiler, in Combination, a boiler, a water supply tank, a pipe connection between the tank and the boiler, a pump interposed in said connection, a second pipe connection between the tank and the boiler at the desiredwater level, a measuring engine in the second pipe connection having a ca acity not less than that ol the pump and tending to withdraw water from the boiler at a rate not less than that at which it is pumped tothe boiler, a heat interchanger interposed in both pipe-connections, a steam pipe connected with the boiler, and a valve having a pressure face of relatively small area'open to the pressure in said steam pipe and a pressure face of relatively large area open to the pressure of water in that part of the second pipe connection between the heat interchanger and the tank and adapted to shut oil the return flow of water therein until the pressure in the heat interchanger approaches the boiler pressure to a degree dependent upon the difference in said pressure areas.

18. lllleans for regulating the water level in a steam boiler comprising, in COl'l'llJl lGr tion, a boiler, a water supply tank, a pipe connection between the tank and the boiler, a pump interposed in said connection, a second pipe connection between the tank and the boiler at the desired water level, measuring engine in the second pipe connection having a capacity not less than that of the pump and tending to withdraw-water from the boiler at a ratchet less than that which it is pumped to the boiler, and a heat interchanger adapted to transfer heattrom the outgoing to the incoming water, said heat interchanger comprising rhumber interposed in the second pipe connection, perforated horizontal partitions ill said chamber dividing it into a series of superimposed communicating sub-chambers, and a coil extending through all the sub-chamhers and interposed in the, first pipe connection.

19. In feed water system for steam generators, a water feed line, means for continuously delivering an exces supply of Water to the generator through said line, an

overflow line, means for removing the excess water from the generator through the overflow line, a heat interchanger between the generator and the water delivery means connected to both lines, the overflow line having means beyond the interchanger to resist the movement of fluid there-through to condense the steam and transfer the heat from the outgoing fluid to the ingoing water.

20. 111 an apparatus for regulating the water level in a steam generator, in combination, a boiler, a water supply tank, means to deliver water from the supply tank to the boiler, means to withdraw excess water from the boiler, a heat interchanger adapted to transfer heat from the water withdrawn from the bo ler to the water being delivered thereto, and a control device for controlling the flow of return water from the heat evchanger.

21. .ii Water supply system for boilers comprising a water supply line for the boiler including a pump, a water discharge, line leading from the boiler at the desired water level, a heat interchanger connected to the supply and discharge lines, a measuring engine between the heat interchanger and the boiler connected to the discharge line, said measuring engine having a cylinder and a piston therein, a valve for controlling the admission of fluid from the boiler to the cylinder and from the cylinder to the heat interchanger, connections between the valve and the piston tor actuating the valve in timed relation to the piston, driving connections for the piston or the measuring engine, said valve being so timed with relation to the piston that the cylinder is open. to the boiler pressure when the piston moves outward and closed to the boiler and open to the heat interchanger when the piston moves in the other direction, and actuating connections for the pump.

22. A water supply system for boilers comprisingawater supply line for the boiler including a pump, a water discharge line leading from the boiler at the desired water level, a heat interchanger connected to the supply and discharge lines, a measuring engine between the heat interchanger and the boiler connected to the discharge line, other means beyond the interchanger for controlling the discharge of water therefrom, said measuring engine having a cylinder and a piston therein, a valve for controlling the admission of fluid from the boiler to the cylinder 1 from the cylinder to the heat inter-changer, connections between the valve and the piston for actuating the valve in timed relation to the piston, driving connections for the piston of the measuring en ine, said valve being so timed with relation to the piston that the cylinder is open to boiler pressure when the piston moves outward and closed to the boiler and open to the heat interchanger when the piston moves in the other direction, and actuating connec-,

tions for the pump.

23. A water supply system for boilers comprising a water supply line for the boiler including a pump, a Water discharge line leading from the boiler at the desired water level, a heat interchanger connected to the supply and discharge lines, a measuring engine between the heat interchanger and the boiler connected to the discharge line, said measuring engine having a cylinder and a piston th rein, a valve for controlling the admission or" fluid from the boiler to the cylinder and from the cylinder to the heat interchanger, connections between the valve and the piston for actuating the valve in timed relation to the piston, driving connections for the piston of the measuring engine, said valve being so timed with relation to the piston that the cylinder is open to boiler pressure when the 7 piston moves outward and closed to the boiler and open to the heat interchanger when the piston moves in the other direction, and actuating connections for the pump interconnected with the driving connections for the measuring engine piston. In testimony of which invention, 1 have hereunto set my hand, at Philadelphia, Pa, on this 28th day of March, 1918.

FRANCIS I. DU FONT. 

